The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-10
THE ROAD LAW RESOLUTIONS.
What an Intelligent Farmer of tho County
Thinks OF Organized Opposition to 1t.

Mr.. EDITOR: When the private cltlzens
of community meet in mass and olnd
themselves together, asking Others to Join
them in rebelling against the laws OF
government, it is time for the lovers OF
everything that works for common good
to ask them to halt If revolt is the object
of the S]abtown meeting, pray some one
tell us what they want to accomplish.
The facts, as shown in their discussion
and resolutions, and especially the personal
knowledge we have OF those present at the
meeting, bear us out in thinking that they
are politicians, soreheads and road law
eyaders. In the Senatorial fight last sum-
mer Mr.. Murray had few friends, as the
polls show at this place, and the prohibi-
ton election next summer will show that
he has many enemies here because they
love whiskey, while the records prove that
Senator Murray does not. We speak that
which we know. The preamble and reso-
lutions adopted by this meeting is slur
upon the intelligent, law-abiding citizens of
slabtown, because the sole object in mest-
ing was to express indignation at Senator
Murray and the road law.
The deception in seeking to soft-soap
their avowed enmity is cowardly when
they have, we understand, threatened per-
sonal violence to him if he were tc pass
through the community. While they con-
slider the new unreasonable law, as they
term it, an error of the head and not of
the heart, we consider the attack made by
them in this meeting was due to an error
of whiskey stomach, and the general
prostration of the principles of man
hood which should underlie their
society. They have never learned
that it is for common good that the gov
ernment makes road laws, and people
without roads and desire for them, Win
due regard for the law, are not civilized.
Without roads country can have neither
society, church nor State, so that the Slab
town meeting has preached its own funeral,
because they say they want more OF the
present sort of roads, and the action OF
their people prove it. This community
has the poorest roads, and does the least to
improve them, Of any community in the
county. Many times one-half OF one day
is all they work, and two or three days
would almost kill them. Even with this
sort of work these kid.glove road-workers
will shrink, hiring mule or Negro and
| if they do not care to do that they will 81
through with the manual of shoulder
arms, (Which is q three-year-old hoe,) and
keep them shouldered all the time, until
the overseer languidly says that will do,
boys, until next spring, and next spring
the process is repeated until now traveller
would not know whether he was on high.
way or in q vide bottom Shutdown gully.
The facts are too plain. These men have
eyaded the old road law, and the new one
gets them down to business, with no dodg-
ing. This hurts, and they kick. Not o
great while ago whole company refused
to work in Slabtown, and when they agreed
to " ork they were sent back over the road
three times before it was received, and
then it was hardly passable. No wonder
they protest against the enforcement OF the
law. Before, overseers and hands had the
matter in their own control to do as they
pleased. Now, it is all in the hands OF the
County Commissioners. They are respon-
sible, and liable to prosecution if they fail
to perform their duties. An oyerseer ap-
pointed by them, with blanks, will hardly
fail to do his duty when sworn to DO 1t.
Then, as he is not involved with the dellli.
quent, he will hardly perjure himself and
Inv himself liable to prosecution to excuse
his neighbor from work. Yes, these men
have manipulated the road law nicely
heretofore, but now when the band begins
to play the elephant will have to dance
The law is plain and complete. 1t is work
or pay. A few delinquents brought to their
senses by the County Commissioners Will
be sufficient, and if the Commissioners 90
not do their duty they can be prosecuted
for their neglect. This would have q
wholesome effect, if necessary, on the ROAD
law howlers all over the County. Ihe
law can and will be enforced to its fullest
extent. That this is the best law possible
we are not prepared to say, for, beyond
question, a system of taxation would be
more just to all, but just such ignorance
and obstinacy as exhibited by the Slab
town meeting has retarded the making and
enforcing of every new law. If this meet
ing desired a better law, one more just,
more equal or wiser, one rot oppressive or
tyrannical in their judgment, one to which
they could willingly subnit, soul and body,
without mental reservation, why in the
name of common sense did they, not get
ND such law and send to the delegation,
and ask them not to pass the law which
they consider burdensome? We are sure
they had ample time after the bill was in
troduced to have doneso. No, they would
rather kick and growl. Like petted
child, they had their own way, and when
the reins begin to tighten, they get mad.
If with all their wisdom, zeal, logic and
patriotism. they did not speak at the proper
time, if the election for County Represen-
tatives was fair, and the road law was
passed without fraud, they should abide by
the law. Most assuredly they do not
voice the better sentiments of the thinking
law.abiding citizens Of the County. If
they want better laws let them roll up
their sleeves and go about getting them
through the proper channels. Let them
learn what they need, and then by the
ballot put men in Office who gill make
just laws, but let them be sure to know
that they are justified in rejecting both the
law and the law makers before they con-
denim them.
1t does harm to any community for its
people to meet in mass and refuse to obey
the laws. Those who live in other por-
tions of the County, who have as much
interest in the County's welfare as they have,
Join in asking them to stop and consider
what they have done. Then, if they are
determined not to abide by the laws of the
country, let them leave the County, and
lease or purchase territory of their own,
where they can make their own laws,
A CITIZEN.